Method and apparatus for handling sheet material



Nov. 13, 1928.

L. C. STEELE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHEET MATERIAL Filed.- Oct 4, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 AN \N \%N Q M A. ......\.Q wa 7L Q \A! AN \N w A a m2 \N m \N NE A E w A N a m SA M N\ 0% :K 2 B n NW A V in NA u Rm. W wM w I NA \N N a m \N\ I -N. a m \N W 3% v n A a +Nw a \NJ N H \N w &W \N L Y NN NN .m %-ww wwmm 1 QN RA. \NWW H Y A ..%WA=NN.. W Q \v\ A J m Luii i H NW D 1 k .J. ANNA. M IQ W RN \N SA u A A c. N A A. %N A E N N AN m, N g Q W MN ATTO RN EYS Nov. 13, 1928.

L. c. STEELE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Oct 4, 1924 Nov. 13, 1928.

L. C. STEELE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHEET MATERIAL wad ATTORNEYS aljfjme fllSk-ala .fl. CD G99. A937 Filed Oct 4, 1924 kw RND \w \Q Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

, LAWRENCE C. STEELE, OF IBALZIIll/[ORE MARYLAND.

Application filed cc'tobegr 4,1924. Serial No; 741,664

My invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for transporting sheet material between stages of treatment and it has for an object to provide for the transfer such material mechanically to a desired place from a,

pack resting on edge. I

it is customary in tin mills to remove plates from the pickling frames or baskets and PlEL-lifi them innned' ely into suitable receptacles or boshes contaming suflicient Water to submerge the plates, the plates resting on edge in the receptacles or boshes. As soon as a boshor a receptacle is filled, it s removed by a crane, or other suitable means, from the VlCi'illty of the pickler to that of a tinning machine gand then the plates are removed from the bosh or receptacle manually and either fed one ata time into the 'tinning machine or subn erged in an auxiliary receptacle carried by the mach ne from which they are removed one at a ti is manually or by a mechanical feeder acrordance with my invention, the manual removh sheetsfr'oin the bosh or redo is elinnnatedwhen the latter is adjacep cent the tinning machine, as I provide a 7 method. and apparatus, whereby sheets are mechanical y removed one at a time from each n ck of abosh as the latter comes from-the "-nckler and are mechanically fed into the .tinning machine. The practice of my invention not only results in cheaper and'increased production' but also the product is better for the l Jhile in invention lines particular utility in the tin-plate making art, nevertheless t may be nit-en wherever it is desired to remove sheets from a pack resting on and to.

transfer sheets so removed to a desired machine or placel-len' e, it a further obj t of my invention to provide a conveying :appara'us which shall include device for adliterally to the sheets of a pack for removing them.

A further object of my invention is to provide an extensible and contractible conveyor together with a device carried by the forward end thereof for removing sheets from a pack resting-on edge and feeding the sheets so removed to the conveyor.

Afurthe-r object of my invention is to provide a conveyor 7 horizontal axis and having a feeding device at the forward end thereof for laterally engaging sheets of a 'pack'and to feed them to the conveyor. i

A further object of my invention is to provide a conveyor having a movable feeding device at the forward end'thereof for feeding sheets of material from a pack restin in water together with means for mov-ingtne feeding device to maintain contact thereof with sheets of the pack in succession. J

A further object of my invention is to provide a conveyor consisting of stationary and movable portions, each portion having a pair of transverse shafts with conveyor belts or chains engaging pulleys or sprockets carried thereby, the sprockets or pulleys and the chains or belts of one pair of shafts being staggered with respect to those of the other pair and one shaft ofeach pair of shafts be- .ing between the shafts of the other pair,

whereby varied. v

A further obyectof my'mvention is to prohe length of the conveyor may be pivoted about a substantiallyvidea conveyor to feed sheet material to a the forward end thereof adapted to be placed between one side of a receptacle, such as a bosh, andthe upper portion of a pack of sheets resting in water'to remove such sheets and to feed them to the conveyor. 7 V

[A further object of my invention is to provide a conveyor having feed rolls whose'feed passage is transverse to the direction of the conveyor elements, together with a device arranged below the feed rolls for adhering to sheets of. a pack "resting on edge and moving the sheets up successively to enter between the rolls, a deflector being arranged at the dischargeside of the rolls to change the direction of the sheets. v

These and other objects are effected by my improved method and apparatuses will anpear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing apair of my feeding devices;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the feeding devices indicating diagrammatically its relation to a machine to be fed and showing in fragmentary section a receptacle from wh ch sheets are removed;

Fig. 8 is a View, partly in section, taken along the line 111 11 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view'of theapparatus;

Fig. 5is a detail view, on a larger scale, showin actuating means for the picking device or suction roller;

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail View showing a pair of feed rolls; Y

, Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of picking device or suction roller;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII VIII of Fig. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary viewishowinga modified form of suction roller and Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the roller shown in Fig. 9. r

Referring now to the drawings more in de tail for a better understanding of my invention, I show a receptacle 10, for example, a bosh,such as is used in receiving plates from a pickler in a tin mill, having a pack of plates or sheets 11 therein (see Fig.2) whichare to be removed by conveyor apparatus, at 12, and transferred to the feeding device 13 of a machine, for example, a tinning machine.

,My 'inventionis concerned largelywith the conveyor apparatus and the organization and improved method incorporating such apparatus, 'or apparatus capable of functioning in a similar manner, whereby sheets of a pack resting on edge may be removed in succession and fed to a machine, thereby'avoiding the manual step of reinoving such'sheets from the pack as is customary practice. 4

'The conveyor, at 12, carries at its forward end a picking device, at 14, which may be low-.

.ered into position between one sideof the re 'ceptacle or bosh 10 and the upper portion of a pack of sheets or plates 11, thepack being so arranged as to leave a space'for the entrance of the picking device. The picking device engages sheets of the pack insuccession and lifts them for passage between a pair of feed rolls 15 and 15 also carried by the conveyor.' Deflectors 16 are arranged at the discharge side of the feed rolls 15 and 15' in order to deflect sheets toward moving elements of the conveyor, the latter conveying the sheets to the place or machine where they are to be treatedor operated upon.

The conveyor is contractible and extensib e in order that the picker means, at 14, may be maintained in contact with the sheets of a pack in succession, and it is capable of being raised and lowered 1n order that the pickmg devlce may be brought into pos1t1on between a pack and a side ofa receptacle and in order that a receptacle or bosh may be removed when 'empt1ed.

Theconveyor consists of a primary frame 17 which is pivotally connected, at 18, to any suitable support or standard 19, and a sec ondary frame 20'wh1ch 1S guided by and movable with respect to the primary frame 17. The primary frame 17 is of sufficient length so that, when lowered, it may extend across abosh and it is provided with upper and lower tracks for upper and lower guide rollers 21 and 22. The secondary frame 20 has device, at

depending therefrom the picking M, alread referred to. l

The primary frame 17 carries a rear shaft 23 and an intermediate shaft 24 provided with aligned pairs of sprocket wheels 23 and 7 24 over which engage conveyor chains 25.

The. secondary frame has rearward and for- I ward shafts 26 and 27, respectively, provided with aligned pairs of sprockets 26 and 2? about which are engaged conveyor chains 28. The rear shaft 26 of the secondary frame is arranged between the shafts 28. and 24 of the primary frame and the pairs of sprockets 23'. and 24L and 26 and27 are staggered so that the secondary conveyor device may'tele;

scope into and out of the primaryconveyor device without interference. I also, the side members 20 of the secondary frame 20 extend sufficiently above the side members 17 of the primary'frame so as not to interfere with the intermediate shaft 24 of the primary frame. i

The secondary frame20 carriesa pair of feed rolls 15 and15, the picking device 14L, and the deflector 16 for sheets. Theroller '15 on the shaft 27 so as to provide spaces for the sprockets 27. V

The picking or suction roller device, at

To this end, g

' is preferably made in sections and mounted claimed in my Patent No. 1,057,183, dated 39 in the hollow trunnion with a conduit 10 leading to any suitable suction device, such 7 as apump' The stationary cylinc er 32 is provided with a longitudinal slot 21 which is arranged to face the sides of sheets to be removed. The rotatable cylinder 38 ,is provided with bearin portions 43 and 4A which 7 fit the journal portions 84k and 39, respec* tively, the beaing portion 44 being elon- L l 14E, is preferably of the type disclosed and gated and having an actuating sprocket keyed thereto. The cylinder-33 is of a foraminous character and it is preferably provided by having perforations 46 extending through the wall thereof. With this apparatus, it will be apparent that, as the perforations 46 register with the longitudinal slot 41, the state of suction existing in the chamber 38 manifested externally of the rotative member 33 through the registering perforations 46, thereby exerting a suction or adhering effect upon the sheets 11 with which the roller contacts. Rotation of the outer cylinder 33, therefore, serves to bring successive erforat-ions 46 into registry with the slot 41, thereby exerting upon a sheet a rack-like action and serving to elevate it for passage between the feed rolls and 15.

In order that the suction roller ust referred to may act to raise the sheets it should be biased or tend to move into contact with sheets of the pack as they are successively removed. chain 47 which engages about the driving sprocket 48 carried by the drive shaft 23 and about an idler sprocket 49 carried by an end cross bar 50 of the pi nary frame 17. The lower side of the ch is arranged to move in the direction of the arrow as indicated in Fig. 5; The lower side of the chain 47 passes over an idlersprocket 51, downwardly, then loops about the sprocket 45 carried by the elongated bearingportion of the rotative cylinder 33, then extends upwardly, and passes over an idler sprocket 52. v /"ith this arrangen'ient, it will be apparent that the tension in the lower side of the chain 47 is effective, not only to turn the rotative cylinder 33 in the proper direction, but also to move "the secondary fran'ie, with the deadjustment of the screws 64, the roll 15 will be malntained in contact with the roll 15, as

pending suction roller device, at 14, in such a direction that the rotativc cylinder may be maintained in contact :withthe sheets 11 of the pack as they are successively remover Should the action of the sprocket gearing just referred to not be suiiicient to develop the desired degree of pressure of the cylinder 33 against the s ieets of a pack, such pressure may be augmented by an adjustable counterweight 53 connected to cord 54, passing over asheave 55 at one ,end of the primary frame 17, and connected preferably at a midpoint of an end cross bar of the secondary frame 20.

The feedrollers 15 and 15, the roller 15 being made in sect-ions and carried by the shaft 27, are actuated, respectively, by sprockets 56 and 57 engaging-with the top side of the drive chain 47, such drive chain passing under the sprocket 57 and over the sprocket 56. It will, therefore, be seen, that the shaft 23 actuates all of the moving parts, the conveyor chains 25 being directly driven thereby, and the conveyor chains 28, the suction roller device, at 14, and the feed rolls To this end, I provide a drive.

15 and 15 being driven by the drive chain 47 Thesecondary frame 20 is preferably provided with suitable deflector devices 58 and 59 in order to assure that sheets moved pwardly by the suction roller shall enter between the feed rolls 15 and '15, the deflector tion in shoes 60 movable with respect to upper and lower guides 61 and 62 carried by the secondary frame 20. In like manner the shaft 57 for the roll 15 and the sprocket 57, is mounted in shoes 63 also movable between the guideways 61 and 62. The shaft 27 may be moved longitudinally of the frame 20 by adjusting the set screws 64 having threaded connection with brackets 65 carried by the frame 20 and bearing against the shoes 60-. As tension of the conveyor chains 28 would resist movement of the shaft 27 in one direc tion and as movement of such shaft in the other direction would result in such chains sagging, it is desirable that means shall be provided for adjusting the shaft- 26 longitudinally with respect to the frame 20 whenever the shaft 27 is adjusted. Consequently, I show the shaft 26 and the guide rollers 21 and 22" at that end of the frame 20 carried by a bracket 66 which is adjustable with respect to the side members 20 of the frame 20 by a suitable screw 67.

Ifthe position of the roll 15 is varied by such roll 15 is biased-in that direction by compression springs 68 which engage at one end abutments 69 on the shoes 63 and which abut at the other ends nuts 7 0 carried by the screws 71, which are threaded to bosses orprojections 72 carried by the secondary frame-20. The springs 68 maint-ain contact of the roll 15 with the roll 15 and the pressure of contact'may be varied by adjusting the nuts 70 along the screws 71. If the rolls are moved to such an extent that the screws 1 would either be in the way or would not afford "sufficient range of movementfor the nuts 7-0 to obtain the proper compression of the springs 68, then the screws 71 may be adjusted withrespect to the bosses or projections 72.

Vhile I prefer to use a suction roller of the type referred to in my patent aforesaid and as illustrated in Figs. 7- and 8, it will be understood that other types of rollers may be used for this purpose. For example, in Figs. Sand 10, I show a roller 74 having a rubber facing provided with vacuum cups 76. If such a roller is used and placed into contact laterally with sheets of a pack, as indicated in Fig. 2, the cups 7 6 would adhere to the sheets and raise them for passage between the feed rolls 15 and 15.

I show the conveyor mechanism, at 12, adapted to feed sheets or plates into selec tive feeding mechanism, at 77, of the type disclosed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 705,407, filed April 9, 1924. It Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the conveyor chains 25 of the primary frame 17 might deliverjsheets to any suitable mechanism for feeding such sheets into a machine.

The supporting standard 19 and the pivotal connection 18 with respect to the primary frame 17 may be located along the latter at such a position thatthe portions of the pivoted structure at either side of the pivotal connection shall be in substantial balance, whereby the primary frame 17 may be raised and lowered with a minimum of effort and whereby, when such frame is raised, it will stay up while one bosh is being removed and another is being inserted. As shown in Fig. 1, if the primary-frame side of the pivoted structure should over-balance the other side, a counterweight 78 supported by a cord 79 passing over asheave 80 and connected to the outer end of the primary frame 17 may be used to place the pivoted structure in sub stantial balance.

From the structure described, the operation of apparatus made in accordance with my invention-will be apparent. A bosh or receptacle 10 is located adjacent to a pickling device from which pickled sheets are removed and placed in the bosh in the form of packs resting on edge. The packs are so arranged as to leave a space. at one side of the bosh in order that a suction roller or picking device, at 1 1, may be inserted between the pack and one side of the bosh as indicated in Fig. 2. After being filled in this manner, the bosh is transported by a crane or other suitable device from the region of the pickler to that of a machine to be fed. The conveyor mecha- Ilism, at 12, will he in an elevated position before the hosh is located therebelow; and, when the bosh is in position, the conveyor device, at 12, is pulled down so that the suction roller, at 14, shall enter the space between one wall of the bosh 10 and the upper portion of the pack of sheets 11, downward motion of the conveyor device, at 12, for this purpose being limited by a suitable stop 81 connected to the outer end thereof. The suction roller adheres to the sheets and moves them up to pass between the feed rolls 15 and 15 in succession; and, from the feed rolls 15 and 15 'he sheets are deflected bythe. X11I11- bers 16 in order that they may fall over onto the conveyor chains 28 of the secondary frame. The conveyor chains 28 pass the sheets rearwardly and then they are taken by the. conveyor chains 25 of the primary frame and carried to any suitable feed ing mechanism for passage between the feeding device 13 of any suitable machine to be fed. After all the sheets are removed from a bosh, the conveyor device, at 12, is tilted upwardly to remove the picking device orsuction roller, at 1 1, so that an empty bosh may be removed and anotherbosh with packs of sheets therein may be placed in position.

The foregoing description relates in detail to a single conveyor device,- at 12; In Figs.

.1 and 3, two such conveyor devices, at 12,'are

shown arranged side by side for the reason that the ordinary bosh is long enough to accommodate two packs of sheets. As conveyor devices, at 12, are duplicates, no

further description is deemed to be necessary.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a method and apparatus whereby only one manual handling of sheets takes place from the time they enter the pickler until they come out of the tinning machine tinned," and that manual step is the removalo-f batches ofplates from a pickler frame and placing themin a loosh. This is advantageous not only from the standpoint of cheaper and more rapid production but also the product is better for reason that there is less opportunity for greeningor drying and the scratching or mar-ring of plates incident to manual removal from a bosh is avoided. V e y l Vhile Ihave shown my invention in but one form, it will beohvions to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that'only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure byLe tters Patent is: i i p 1. 'In'apparatus for conveying sheets from a pack resting-on edge, the combination of a frame, a conveyor movable endwise of the frame and including movable conveyor elements, a depending roller carried by the, forward end of the conveyor and adapted to contact laterally with the sheets and to adhere thereto with suiiicient force toraise the sheets and to feed them to the conveyor, adriving sprocket for the roller, a pair of sprockets on the conveyor, a sprocket chain having one side engaging over the conveyor sprockets, passing therebetween, and looping over the roller sprocket, whereby the tension in said chain is effective to pull the roller into contact with the sheets. i i

2. In a conveyor for conveying sheets from a pack resting on edge and submerged in liquid in a receptacle, the upper portion of these til) the pack being spaced from one side of the receptacle, thecombination of a first frame pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of shafts extending transversely of the frame, one of said shafts being disposed at the rear of said frame and the other shaft being disposed intermediately thereof, aligned pairs of sprocket Wheels carried by the shafts, conveyor chains engag ing about the sprocket wheels, a second frame movable longitudinally with respect to the first frame, a second pair of shafts disposed transversely of the second frame,the rearmost of the latter shafts being'disposed between the shafts of the first pair, aligned pairs of sprocket wheels carried by the second pair of shafts and staggered with respect to the aligned pairs of sprocket'wheels of the first pair of shafts, conveyor chains engaging over the sprocket wheels of the second pair of shafts, bearings depending from the for- Ward end of the second frame, a suction roller journalled insaid bearings and adapted to fit intothe space between the upper portion of said pack and one side of the receptacle for engaging and raising the sheets thereof in succession, a pairof feed rolls carried by the second frame forwardly of the foremost of the pair of shafts carried thereby and adapted to receive sheets raised by the suction roller, means carried by the second frame for deflecting sheets from the feed rolls to the conveyor chains of the second frame, means for actuatlng the conveyor chains, the suction roller, and the feed rolls,

and means for moving the second frame in such a direction as to maintain contact of the suction roller with sheets of the pack in succession. 1

8. In a conveyor for conveying sheets from a pack resting on edge and submerged in liquid in a receptacle, the upper portion of the pack being spaced from one side .of the receptacle, the combination of a first frame pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of shafts extending transversely of the frame, one of said'shaf-ts being disposed at the rear ofsaid frame and the other shaft being disposed intermediately thereof, aligned pairs'of sprocket wheels carried by the shafts, conveyor chains engaging about the sprocket wheels, a second frame movable longitudinally with respect to the first frame,-a second pair of shafts disposed transversely of the second frame, the rearmost of the latter shafts being disposed between the shafts of thefirst pair,'aligned pairs of sprocket wheels carried by the'second pair of shafts and staggered with respect to the aligned pairs of sprocket wheels of the first pair of shafts, conveyor chains enga-glngover the sprocket wheels of the second pair of shafts, bearings depend-mg from the forward end of the second frame, a sheet device join-nailed insaid bearings rolls carried by the second frame forwardlv of the foremost of the pair of shafts carried thereby and adapted to receive sheets raised by the sheet feeding device, mean-s car ried by the second frame for deflecting sheets from the feed rolls to the conveyor chains of the second frame, a pair of fixedly spaced sprockets mounted on the first frame, a pair of idler sprockets carried by the second frame arranged above the axis of the sheet feeding device, sprocket wheelincluded in the sheet feeding device, sprocket wheels carried by the feed rolls, and a sprocket chain one side of which passesover and between the idler sprockets and loops the sprocket wheel of the sheet feeding'device and the other side of which passes under one and over the other of the feed roll sprocket Wheels and over said sprockets mounted on the first frame, whereby movement of said chain operates the conveyorchains, the feed rolls and the sheet feeding device in unison.

4. In apparatus for conveyingsheets from a pack comprising a primary frame, a secondary frame movably mounted on the primary frame, a traveling conveyor mounted on the primary frame, a traveling conveyor mounted on the secondary frame, 'a sheet feeding device carried by the latter frame adapted to contact with the outside sheet of the pack, and an endless sprocket chain mounted on the primary frame for driving theconv-eyors and the sheet feeding device. 5. In apparatus for conveying sheets from a pack comprising a primary frame, a secondary frame movably mounted on the primary frame, a traveling conveyor mounted on the-primary frame a traveling conveyor mounted on the secondary frame,.;a sheet feeding device carried by the latter frame adapted to contact withthe outside sheet of the pack, a pair of fixedly spaced sprockets mounted on'th e primary frame and an endlesslsproc'ket chain mounted on said sprockets for driving the conveyors and the sheetfeeding device. j

V 6. In apparatus for conveying sheets from a pack, the combination of an extensible and -contractible conveyor tiltable about a substa-ntially horizontal axis and a sheet'feeding device carried by the endwise movable end of the conveyor for contacti n g laterally with the sheets and feeding them progressively :to the 1 conveyor. 7 I

7. In apparatusfor conveying sheets from a pack, the combination of an extensible and contractible conveyor, a sheet feeding device carried-by the endwise movable end of the conveyor for contacting laterally c with the sheets and feeding them progressively to the conveyor, means for driving Said device and 8. In apparatus for conveying sheets from a pack comprising a conveyor including a movable element, a sheet feeding device from said movable element adapted to contact with the outside sheet of the pack for removing said sheet and feeding it to the conveyor, driving means for operating the sheet feeding device, and means co-acting with said driving means for moving said sheet feeding device into contact with the sheets\! 9. In apparatus forconveying sheets from a pack comprising a conveyor pivotally mounted on a substantialiy horizontal aXis, said conveyorincluding a movable element, avsheet feeding device depending from said movable element adapted to contact with the outside sheet of the pack for feeding said sheet to the conve or drivin means for the sheet feeding device, and means co-acting with said driving means for moving said feeding device into contact with the sheet.

10. In apparatus for conveying sheets from a pack comprising an extensible and contractible conveyor including a movable element, a sheet feeding device depending from said movable element adapted to contact with the outside sheet of the'pack and for feeding it to the conveyor, driving means for said sheet feeding device and means co-acting with said driving means which, in operation,

tends to extend the conveyor to maintain said 1 feeding device-in. contact with the sheet.

11. In apparatus for conveying sheets from I a pack comprising a primary frame, a secondary frame movably'mounted on the primary frame, atraveling conveyor mounted on the primary frame, a traveling conveyor mounted on the secondary frame, a sheet feeding device carried by the latter frame adapted to contactwith the outside sheet of the pack, a pan of fixedly spaced sprockets mounted on the primary frame, a'sprocket adapted to drive said feeding device,'-a pairof sprockets mounted on the secondary frame, and a sprocket chain passing-hover the pair of sprockets on the primary frame, over and between the sprockets mounted on the secondary frame, and looping about the sprocket for driving the feeding device, whereby, in operation, thetension of the sprocket chain is effective to move the secondary frame in such a direction as to maintain contact between the feeding device and the sheets. i V

12. In apparatus for conveying sheets from a pack comprising a primary frame, a secondary frame movably mounted on the primary frame,'a'travel1ng conveyor mounted on the to contact with the outside sheet of thepack,

an endless sprocket chain mounted on the zontal axis, a pair of shafts extending trans versely of the frame, one of shafts being disposed at the rear of said frame and the other shaft being disposed intermediately thereof, aligned pairs of sprocket wheels car ried by theshafts conveyor chains engaging about the sprocket wheels, a secondary frame movablelongitudinally with respect. to the fist frame, a pair of shafts disposed trans versely of the second frame, the rearmost on the latter shaft being disposed between the shafts of the first pair, aligned pairs of sprocket wheels carried by the second pair of shafts and staggered with respect to the aligned pairs of sprocket'wheel's of the first pairof shafts, conveyor chains engagingover '{m s the sprocket wheels of the second pair of shafts, a sheet feeding device depending from theforward end of the "secondary frame adapted to contact with the outsidesheets of the pack, a pair of feed rolls carried by the secondary frame adapted to receive sheets raised by the feeding device, means for driving the conveyorchains, the feeding device and the feed'rolls, and means co-acting with said means for moving the secondary frame longitudinally with respect to the primary frame. I v f 14. In apparatus for conveying sheetsfrom a pack comprising a primary frame pivotally mounted about, a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of shafts extending transversely of the frame, one of said shafts being disposed at the rear of said frame aligned pairs of sprocket wheelscar'ried by the shafts, conveyor chain s engaging about the sprocket wheels, a secondary frame movable -longi-- tudinally with respect to the first frame, a a

ter shafts being disposed between the shafts of the first pair, aligned pairs of sprocket wheels carried bythe second pair of shafts and staggered with respect to the aligned pairs of sprocket wheels of the first pair of shafts, conveyor chains engaging over the sprocket wheels of the second pair of shafts, a sheet feeding device depending from the forward end of thesecondary frame adapted to con-. tact with theoutside sheet of the pack and move the sheets transversely with respect to. the pack, a roll carried by the secondary frame forwardly of the foremost of the pair of shafts carried thereby, a roll fixedly mounted on the latter shaft intermediate the sprocket wheelsmounted thereon, said rolls constituting feeding rolls adapted to receive the sheets moved by said feeding device, said shafts mounted on the primary frame extending beyond said frame and each shaft having mounted thereon a sprocket wheel disposed outside the frame, a sprocket chain surrounding the last mentioned sprocket wheels, a driving sprocket wheel also mounted on the extending end of the rear-most shaft which is mounted on the primary frame, an idler sprocket wheel mounted at the forward end of the primary frame, a sprocket for driving the feeding device, a pair of idlerrsprockets carried by the secondary frame arranged above the of the last mentioned sprocket, the foremost shaft mounted on thesecondary frame being provided with a sprocket aligned with'said pair of idler sprockets, a sprocket wheel fixedly mounted on the foremost roll,

a sprocket chain one side of which passes over and between the idler sprockets and loops the sprocket which drives thefeeding device and the other side of which passes around the idler continues around the driving sprocket mountv ed on therearmostshaft mounted on the primary frame, whereby the movement of the chain in a certain direction operates the conveyor chains, the feed rolls and the feeding device and causes the latter to maintain contact with the surface ofthe sheet.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoatiix my signature this 20 day of September, 1924.

LAW VRENGE C. STEELE. 

